In Elden Ring, being a Tarnished exile is a title that brings about shame; however, the stories of each exile are unique in scope and form.
Elden Ring's protagonist - an exiled Tarnished - is someone who's returned to the Lands Between to reclaim the status of Elden Lord, but what's less readily known is why the character was exiled in the first place. Because George R.R. Martin helped create Elden Ring settings and characters, his contribution, however large or small, clearly played a role in a lot of the lore. Also, prior to the release of Elden Ring, Miyazaki shined some light on specific details related to the backstory of the Lands Between, some of which touched on the Tarnished protagonist's role in the game.
To understand the backstory of those who've been exiled in Elden Ring, it's crucial to know what a Tarnished person is. As they're referred to throughout the game, the Tarnished are individuals who no longer have the life force of the Erdtree running through them. Unlike those who haven't been exiled, Elden Ring's Tarnished possesses a distinct black essence around their eyes, while the others have a golden glow - indicating their connection to the Erdtree. For many years, before the great Shattering war, those who'd been exiled no longer had access to the immortality they'd once been gifted from the Erdtree's life force. Of course, that all changed after Godwyn The Golden was assassinated and the Death Rune was stolen, which eventually set up the events that unfold during Elden Ring's playthrough. Now, an exiled Tarnished has returned to the Lands Between in hopes of reuniting the land once more, just as famous Godfrey had once done.
Essentially, all of the Tarnished in the Lands Between originally became exiled because they'd fallen from grace in one way or another. While some characters' backstories in Elden Ring, such as Godfrey's, present details that lead to a conclusion of exile, others are more mysterious. The game's protagonist is such a case that is unclear, but Miyazaki says there's a reason for that, one that allows players to roleplay and engulf themselves into the world more.
A Fall From Grace Is Why There Are Exiled Tarnished In Elden Ring
FromSoftware writer and executive, Hideyaka Miyazaki, interviewed at multiple news outlets before Elden Ring was officially released. During these interviews, he provided some contextual analysis about Elden Ring's Tarnished protagonist. Miyazaki formulated the idea that players shouldn't seek to know the protagonist's background like the rest of the characters in Elden Ring, mainly because there's not a timeline of history for the character other than the fact that he or she is an exiled Tarnished, fallen from grace.
Although Miyazaki won't play his almost ideal game with its Tarnished protagonist, it's clear that the collective effort from the FromSoftware team created something that will be viewed as a classic in the years to come. Having a protagonist with a minuscule amount of background worked extremely well, as it allows players to identify personally with the character and create hypothetical storylines of exile and renewal. Other than the protagonist, Elden Ring is also riddled with many other Tarnished characters that serve as guides and help for players during their journey. One, in particular, Godfrey, has a backstory that is meant to serve as the primary converging point that all Tarnished individuals can look to for hope.
According to Elden Ring lore, Queen Marika married Godfrey and made him the first Elden Lord, but she later banished him from the Lands Between - which technically also made him the first Tarnished. While it's not absolutely clear as to why she banished him, it had something to do with his deterioration after he defeated the Storm Lord. Either he began using his powers in ways that didn't serve the people of the Lands Between, or, Queen Marika wanted him gone because he no longer benefitted her reign. Whichever it was, Godfrey is a very important Tarnished in Elden Ring who provides additional context into how the exiles initially began.
Elden Ring's Tarnished Protagonist Allows For Unique Roleplaying
Because Elden Ring's Tarnished protagonist doesn't have any specific background, players can roleplay and think of their own linear story prior to playthrough's events. Perhaps one of the most interesting theories out there comes from EremiticFerret on Reddit; the user suggested, "I wonder if Godfrey is our ancestor, giving us claim to the throne." If a player chooses to take this viewpoint, it makes Elden Ring's Godrick, who kills Tarnished, their half-brother. That would certainly put a huge spin on things. However, because the protagonist isn't a demi-god like Godrick, it means that this could only hold up if Godfrey had children before marrying Queen Marika, which is definitely possible. And, like Aragorn seeking to reclaim his Numenorian ancestors' throne in Lord of The Rings, the protagonist is similarly seeking the rightful place of Elden Lord, a title and status that their ancestor Godfrey once held.
If a player doesn't care too much about coming up with or creating epic backstories for their character, they can always take a more simplistic outlook. Like some of the other lowly Tarnished in Elden Ring, wreaking havoc and getting revenge on Queen Marika's demi-god children is enough to make for a satisfying adventure whiling simultaneously working to claim Elden Lordship and rebuild the Golden Order. Additionally, chatting with other Tarnished characters in the game sometimes provides more context to their personal stories of being exiled, which can play into the protagonist's hand. In one way or another, all Tarnished have fallen from grace, but not all can see the light of grace as the main character can.
In short, each Tarnished in the Lands Between has a unique experience and story of becoming an exile. Among these, Godfrey is idealized as the highest and most prominent to ever exist. His experience inspires the other Tarnished to keep on trying to get back in touch with grace, as that's their ultimate goal. On the other hand, the protagonist has the most unique situation of all the Tarnished because the game starts with no background for the character. It serves as the perfect moment in the Lands Between to renew the Elden Ring's Golden Order and bring back the Elden Lord, sparking a new age in the world's historical lore.
Next: Elden Ring Gameplay Breakdown: Combat, NPCs, & World Details Explained
Source: EremiticFerret/Reddit
